Rear signal light for automobiles



May 17, 1927.

P. A. STOVER REAR SIGNAL LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 4, 1925 wwwJazz/f5 fewer UNITED STAT u IPA'UL A. STOVER, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN,

ASSIGNOR T THESTOVER SIGNAL ENGI- NEERING COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

REAR SIGNAL LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application led April 4,

My invention relates to improvements in rear signal lights for`automobiles. More speciically, it relates to an improved combinationtail lamp and danger signal, i. e., a lamp structure having a red lightor other distinctivel colored` light constantly visible from t e rear ofthe vehicle, and a second lamp vwhich is illuminated intermit tently toindicate a change of speed, such as a slowing down or stopping of themachine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, andornamental lamp structure of thischaracter. Another object is to providea lamp structure having three translucent panels, one of which may beilluminated for a long interval of time,

serving as a tail light, another of which may be illuminated when thecar slows down or stops, thus constituting a warning signal,

and the third of which has an ornamental design or other insigniathereon, such as the name or trade-mark of the automobile manufacturer,the name'of a city the initial or monogram of the owner, or thedesignating symbol of some club or other organi.- zation, togletherAwith means for illuminatling said t ird panel. An additional obJect isto provide such a combination lamp with an additional side or bottomtransparent panel for illuminating the license plate. A further objectis to combine such a lamp structure with the license plate support, thusproviding a complete unitary' structure which may be convenientlymounted on or near the rear of the car as a single instal-v lation.

In the accompanying drawin I have illustrated one embodiment of t einvention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device Fig. 2 is a similar elevationwith the cover removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 1; and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram.

The bod of the structure or casing is made, pre erably from a singlecircular sheet of metal 1, rawn to cup-shaped form with side flanges 2.In the receptacle thus formed a partition 3 is located, said partitionbein preferably spot welded at its ends to the si ewalls 2. A series ofsup orting lugs 4 are formed in said side walls, y cutis a'section onthe line -5--5 of Fig.

` is made,lpreferably, of glass.

1923. Serial N'o. 629,765.

ting the metal toform a tongue' and bend- Acoof the chambers'may bepaintedwith luminous paint, if desired. The glass panels 8 and 9 areclamped between saidcover and the supporting lugs 4. The glass panel 9is also supported and positioned bythe post 5. One of said panels coversthe upper chamber in Fig. 2, and the other covers the upper' part of thelower chamber. a

he cover has three openings therein, as shown .in Fig. 1, exposing toview -glass panels 8 and 9, and alsol a lens 10. Said lens has a flange`beneath said cover resting on the post 5 and the two lower lugs 4.Incandescent lamps 11 and'A 12 are mounted in the back wall of thestructure. The lamp in the upper compartment is, preferably, a 21 candlepower lamp, and the lamp in the `lower compartment a 2 candle' powerlamp. The lamps are mounted by striking up a ample; This .transverse barsupports the license plate 19 in position beneath the lamp structure.cense` plate a transparent panel 20 is mounted inthe bottom of the lamphousing an lThe circuit diagram in Fig. 6 illustrates one manner-ofAcontrolling the lamp circuits. The three transparent panels 8,l 49, and10l are shown diagrammatically in Athis figure, with incandescent lampsbehind panels 8v and 10. These lamps are connected with the battery 21and are in parallel 'with each other. The. tail lamp has a switch 22 inseries therewith, whereby it may be manually controlled, and the warninglight has a switch 23- in series therewith operated lj'v In order toilluminate said lithe brake pedal 24, or some-other part which y sembledrelation to said casing.

is moved when the car is slowed down or brought to a stop in a mannerwell understood in the art.

'- With the arrangement providedit will be seen vthat the tail light andthe ornamental panel 9 are illuminated whenever the circuit of theswitch 22 is closed, which would be inthe night time or such otherperiods of time as would necessitate lighting of the taily light.

The glass panel com rising the name -plate panel is, in the embo imentshown, a strip of plain, clear glass, with a decalcomania transfer onthe inside surface, and thereafter covered with a coat of clear, hard,varnishor with another sheet of glass to prevent blistering from theheat of the incandescent lamp. The emblem or name may be in colors.These name plate panels are readily removable, so that the customer maybe supplied with any particular emblem'or name which he may wish toinsert in place of the panel which isl in thelamp when-he buys it andall 'of vthe name plate panels belng the same size-they are readilyinter# changeable. I

One or both'lights may be made to show from the front, if desired,simply 'by pro viding one or more openings in the back partition of eachchamber and equi ping said o enings with suitablelenses. his is desirale in case the structure is mounted on the fender, as it enables thedriver to de.- termine whether 4the lights are operating properly, asdiclosed more lfullyin my prior atent 1,346,567, issued July '19, 1920.The device would lalso serve as a parking light in such case. f

It is further evident that this signaling device may beused on streetcars or other vehicles. arious other uses and modifications will readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art; therefore, I do not wishto limit myself to the embodiment ofthe invention disclosed herein,except. as necessitated by certain of the appended claims.

I cla-im:-

1. A vehicle signal lamp comprising a cas-v ing, a partitionI dividingsaid casing into two compartments, a lamp in one of said compartmentscoacting therewithto constitute a tail light, a lamp in the othercompartment actuable to indicate cha-ngein velocity of a vehicle, saidsecond lamp 'coacting with its compartment ,to constitute a stop light,a translucent lens and an indicia-bearing translucent panel over saidltail light compartment, a translucent warning lens over said stop lightcompartment and a cover for said casing securing said lenses and panelin as- 2. A vehicle signal lamp, c0mprising a casing, a partitiondividing said casing into two compartments, a lamp in one of saidcompartments coacting therewith to constitute a tail light, a lamp inthe othercompartment actuable to indicate change in-velocity of avehicle, said second lamp coacting with its compartment'to constitute astop light, a translucent lens and a separately removableindicia-bearing translucent panel over said tail light compartment, atranslucent Warning lens over said stop light compartment and aremovable cover for said casing. securing said lenses and panel inassembled relation to'said casing.

3. A vehicle signal lamp comprisinga casing, a partition dividing saidcasing into two compartments, a lamp in one of said compartmentscoactingtherewith to constitute a tail light, a lamp in the other compartmentactuable to'indicate change in .velocity of a vehicle, said second lampcoacting with its compartment Ato constitute a sto light, a translucentlens and an indic1a-bearing translucent panel over said tail lightcompartment, a translucent warning lens over said stop lightcompartment, a cover for said casing securing said lenses and'panelin'assembled relation to said casing, and means to support and positionsaid lenses and panel relative to said' cover and casing.

4. A vehicle -signal lamp comprising a casing, acover therefor, apart'tion separatin said compartment into two chambers, sai

cover being provided withy two apertures overlying one of saidcompartments, a'tail lamp in salidlatte'r compartment capable ofconstant illumination, a signal lens underlying one of said vtwoapertures and an indicia-bearing translucent panel underlying the otherof said apertures,lsaid cover being provided with a third apertureoverlying the other of said compartments, a lamp in said last namedcompartment capable 'of temporary illumination and a warning lens.underlying said third aperture. l

5. A vehicle signal lamp comprising av casing, a removable 'covertherefor, -a partition separating said compartment into two chambers,said cover being provided with two apertures overlying one of saidcompartments, a tail lamp in said latter compartment capable of constantillumination, a signal lens underlying one of said two apertures and anindicia-bearing translucent panel underlying the other of saidapertures, said cover beinof provided with a third aperture overlyingtshe other of said compartments, a lamp in said last named compartmentcapable of temporary illumination and a warning lens underlying saidthird aperture, said lenses and panel being removable when said cover isremoved from said casing and being positioned against removal by saidcover when the latter is in assembled relation to said casing. y

6. A vehicle signal lamp comprising a casing, a cover therefor, apartition separating said compartment into twolc'hambers, said bearingremovable translucent panelv under-` lying the other of said apertures,said cover being provided with a third aperture overlying the other ofthe said compartments, a lamp in Y said last named compartment capableof temporary illumination and a warning lens underlying said thirdaperture.

7. A vehicle 'signal lamp comprising a casing and cover therefor, apartition separating said casing into twogcompartments, a lamp in eachof said compartments, said cover being provided with anaperture'overlying one of said compartments and two apertures overlyingthe'other of said compartments, a Warning lens underlying said firstaperture, a srrgnal lens and a translucent indicia bearing panelunderlying said other apertures', said casing and partition beingprovided with angularly .disposed supportin lugs.

n testimony whereo,I have subscribed my name. f l

vPAUL A. STOVER.

